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Lots of people just got their Oscars tube fix in the last couple of hours. Ellen was funny, JLaw fell again, before getting to the red carpet, the stars took an epic selfie, and I knew Matthew McConaughey would bring home Best Actor.

photo credit: Bradley Cooper, seriously..

Lupita Nyong’o in Prada (All photo sources: Just Jared, The Guardian, and Oscars.com)

Along with that, we beauty bugs always only pretty much await a certain segment of the whole event that isn’t even part of the main program, of course, the red carpet arrivals. It’s where we finally get to see our beloved stars in an open space from top to toe in full swag. It’s also where these actors get their faces mercilessly peppered with flash photography while the sun is setting. Red carpet makeup is a professional makeup artist’s ultimate challenge because today with social media and smartphones, not one mistake stands a chance. Read more to see the photos and find out who were the 5 actresses I thought had the best overall hair and makeup.

Hey guys, I’m so happy I finally got this to work! I was having a few quirks on the old comments syncing but now DISQUSblog comments is fully operational on my blog! I wanted to resurrect life in my comment threads and be able to discuss with you all, rant, rave, or swoon back, and laugh it up easily in the same manner that comment threads become lively, more interactive and fun on Facebook or Instagram for example. I spotted DISQUS on the blog of Anna (Vivianna Does Makeup she gets like a minimum of 20 comments for every post) and more recently on first class US beauty blogzine ITG (Into the Gloss), and I also noted that select news sites like the Atlantic for example use DISQUS, too. I figured if thousands of strangers are able to comment on the Atlantic via DISQUS it’s got to be simple enough for blog readers, too. All your old comments (at least all I hope, last I checked) have been synced here already. For some of you this new comments section may look a little less straightforward than before. Don’t worry, you DO NOT have to register with DISQUS just to leave a comment (but with a free DISQUS account you get the option of voting up comments), you can go for logging in using your social media account OR if you really just don’t wanna care too much just “comment as guest”…see the example below. By the way, a certain “gentleman” was quite obliging to help me demonstrate how public guest comments work, haha! To leave a comment as a guest just click in the “Join the Discussion” box to begin commenting and when you click in the “Pick a name” box underneath to leave your name…the option of “I’d rather post as a guest” will be there so just check that.

Hey guys, leave me comments. Don’t be shy and let’s begin discussing! To make it fun I’ll begin putting up photo topics for discussion just so we can all get to know each other a little better and have fun putting our opinions out there via DISQUS. Don’t worry IF in the long-run this comment program doesn’t begin to improve our interaction or ease the way I moderate comments it’s pretty simple to just deactivate it and all the new comments from Disqus can be safely synced back into the old WordPress comments. Here’s something to help you understand it better. To totally visualize and get how much less limiting DISQUS is when it comes to topic interaction check out this catchy 1 minute viral video ad of theirs (via YouTube).

America’s new fresh-faced sweetheart, in my mind, is none other than Jennifer Lawrence, most especially after she beautifully blundered going up that Academy Awards stage last time. That second Dior video people are just too excited to see isn’t out yet and if you’re wondering what that’s about it’s going to be a behind-the-scenes feature on “JLaw” choosing her Dior dress for the upcoming Oscars. Swathed with delightfully awkward moments and famous for her fresh honesty Jennifer makes being the antithesis of demure such a grand, real, and glorious thing to behold. Foot in mouth quirks and all, Dior have still deemed her more than beautiful enough to be their current fashion muse for a third campaign and as seen in the recent photos that have popped up she absolutely is. I’ve embedded the first installment video of her Dior dress interview series below. Keep on the alert for that second video coming out this week (be aware the first one was unlisted on YouTube, you might have to search on blogs and news sites)!

Last but not the least, I wanted to share a video that showcases the reason why I also admire Dior. I just love their approach to the application and finish of makeup. They make use of very gentle and creatively precise application techniques, makeup never looks piled on and just radiates from the face. Go backstage to the hair and makeup room for Dior’s 2014 Spring Summer haute couture show.

Yea, no kidding that’s all I had to say right? If you don’t know who Paramore’s lead singer is…she’s been around FOR AWHILE and has been singing pro since she was about 15 and Hayley Williams is not just another young girl screaming at a microphone. She really sings, as in seriously sings…and her ability to pull off pop-py, alternative grunge cool and keeping pretty without looking too androgynous is what gets her admired in the beauty community. I learned more about Hayley 4 years ago when I watched this interview about her and her development as a singer (playable only on laptops or desktop devices). The collection is a tricky one to get and will launch on April 9, 2013 and will be available exclusively online for a limited time only. Sigh* I’m glad I didn’t get any of the Archie items. I really…really dig what this is looking like. Hayley is just sooo irritatingly cool. If you’ve never heard her sing here’s one of her more popular mellow performances from 5 years ago, Paramore’s Live Acoustic Cover of the Kings of Leon song “Use Somebody” ( this link can be watched on all devices) . Also embedding here for a slightly more recent but still not so new video their acoustic jam for the song “The Only Exception” where Hayley’s rocker chic makeup is just…just perfect to me…it’s just enough and sooo pretty.

You can’t go wrong with a set of Charm makeup brushes. They’re the locally recognized mid-range makeup brush brand consigned in quite a few locations around the city like in Glorietta and at Pure Beauty in Serendra. The brand has also been cited several times by magazines like Cosmopolitan. Top blogger Sophie Uy has done a superb job of championing her brand! I use these brushes often on wedding jobs and advertising shoots and they just really deliver…without shedding.

Use coupon code PH-Twentyoff on all transactions until February 28, and get a whopping, happy 20% off on all items from Beauty and Minerals!

They’re having a sale over at the brushes’ online home Beauty and Minerals, be sure you don’t miss out! I think the discounts are only for online purchases. If you’d like to know what I’d put my money on other than the retractable brushes, which every self-respecting girl on the go needs, it would be this.

Many people in the beauty blogosphere abroad, at least all over Europe for now, are talking about an acne-preventive treatment that’s actually been working for many of them for acne prevention and clear skin maintenance. The word of mouth skin renaissance that’s taking a lot of Europe by storm is brought to you by the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. Ever since both Tanya Burr, Ruth Crilly, and several other bloggers shared their love for the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Skin Duo treatment this reportedly has has been flying off shelves by the thousands. The European formulation of this works as an acne-preventive all-over moisturizer. The thing is it’s great for treating acne that exists and preventing future acne while it does the good enough job of moisturizing for daytime they say. However STOP! I mean stop right now, if you are in the U.S. or about to ask someone in the U.S. to get it for you because you need to know the difference in formulations between the Effaclar duo made in France and the one made in the U.S., they’re just not the same. The one that all these girls are raving about is the one made in Europe. Please disregard the allure stamp of approval on the U.S. image on the right, I was just too lazy to remove it even though it was distracting. I explain to you the difference in a few seconds…just as Ruth Crilly did in this video of her monthly favorites with her mom.

The reason why the US formulation of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo is different from the European one is is it contains 5.5 benzoyl peroxide, an intense, zit-zapping target medication for existing pimples so it certainly shouldn’t be used all over the face the way the other one can be. The U.S. formulation is an Allure award-winning targeted spot treatment so you only put it directly on problem spots and areas, not on your entire face and I’m sure it works great that way, too. The European Effaclar Duo formulation is a reported favorite because it’s paraben-free and they say even if you haven’t got a lot of acne all the time or if you hardly ever get zits it still works at helping unclog pores of overstaying blackheads and whiteheads (I’ve got lots) which can eventually become zits if infected. The European Effaclar Duo fights skin congestion across the face, helps and soothes with hydration, and if you’ve got zits Ruth and/or Tanya says it supposedly eases them out properly with less damage to the skin. I’ve actually just bought myself a tube of the European formulation off ebay from a Greek seller link here, it was 50% off and she also sells lots of other great skincare brands like Korres and Vichy Dermablend. Hoping it arrives sooner than later. I also gota Korres Thyme & Honey Exfoliating cleanser from the same seller which had free shipping so I bought it and made it ride along with my Effaclar duo. They should both get here in ’bout 3 weeks.… To full post & COMMENTS...

They’re almost here. However, it will be increasingly hard to get a hold of MAC’s Archies Girls collection. There’s actually an ongoing signup sheet in the U.S. that’s first come first serve. Funny thing is they’ve made availability so like we’re all fighting for Archie or something. Sigh…I feel like I’d really like 1 or 2 things from this collection but don’t stand a chance.

Anyhoo, to be honest I’m not very fond of the visual…it’s too rarr and not “camp” enough, but the makeup is awesome. Archie humor is quite camp and it seems they missed it by a bit. Now look who’s sourgraping, haw-haw.… To full post & COMMENTS...